The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1887-06-18
NEW AND OLD.

NEW AND VLR.
"Thc New South' is so often men
toned with words of praise and patron
age that many southern people are grow
ing tired Of the phrase. They feel tha
the praise Of the present is too muck
at the expense Of the pride of the past
There is also a disposition to resent the
comp!acency of those northern critics
ofsouthern civilization who apparently
regard the ideal new south as a COPY
of the old north. Down this way We
have always held that there was some.
thing distinctive in southern civiliZa-
ton which could not be altogether ac-
counted for by the institution of slavery,
The cavaliers of Virgins, the Hugue-
nots of Carolina, the Creoies OF Louisi-
ana, were marked by peculiarlties
which had BEEN impressed upon their
ancestors in England, in France and in
Spain, Just as the Puritans in New
England aud the Quakers in Penn
| sylvania represented in their American
homes forms aad religion and modes
of life Of transatlantic origin. More
! over, we have held that some ut least
Of the distinctive features of southern
civilization were legitimate sources of
pride, and that 4 new south without
them would be essentially inferior to
that Old south in which they found
their most conspicuous illustration in
this country.
i, is true that the institution of slav-
cry tends TO cultivate the arjstOcratic
temper ; because it creates a privileged
class and accustoms il to the exercise
of authority and the enjoyment of lux
ury. But the same tendency exists
where wealth accumulates in the hands
of the few, and where the many are
forced to endure the hardships, and
sometimes to accept the humiiiations
Of subordinate sphere. The ingenious
mechanic becomes a prosperous manu-
fac!urer. His son expands bis business
relations and becomes Il millionaire.
His grandson is literally educated,
widely travelled and refined man of the
world. Three generations have made
a gentleman. His sranddaughters are
graceful and accomplished, leaders of
society. Toll has ceased to disfigure
the children of that race, and trade no
of the family had struck oil or got into
would have been the same.
But as a rule, the aristocrats of the old |
south We're not made by slavery, and
after the abolition Of slavery they re-
tanned the mental habit and the out
ward bearing Of their class. The south
has its R0HreHshG 3'icjteS as well as the
north; but when the food came and
swept away their fortunes il took away
also their claim to social dist inctiOn.
II requires generations TO develop an
enduring aristOcracy which shall COM
mand respect in times Of evil as we'll as
Of good fortune. 1t is noticeable that
.he governing class in the old south
has rot failed TO maintain its suprem.
tCy in the new south. The southern
DrigaaicrS in congress were sent to con-
gress for the same reason that they were
given promotion in the war. They
were usually men OF education, OF
amily, and 0! commanding character.
rhuy HaVc suffered losses, they have
on and upwards by the sheer
[OrCC OF an inherited manhood. Here
md there, indeed, we tiud sad instances
If decay homes still chill with poverty
and children growing up in ignorance
but rarely ever do we find in any old
southern family an utter absence of
hose finer traits which betcken the
culture Of noble traditions and refined
association. There is a distinction that
money cannot buy aud that even in
iigcUCC cannot Obliteratr. How often
70 we find this fact eXcmpfified by
gentle southern women, leading lives
If pathetic beauty in the midst OF sordid
Surroundings,
Bui what DO they hope who cling 10
The Ideals Of The old south? Certainly.
not he restoration Of slavery, and the
recovery Of wealth and power by that
means. Indeed, II is not wealth or
power that they are thinking of when
they turn away in disgust from the |
picture Of new south which shall |
suggest the old south by contrast only.
An, no: not that, but the generous
the chivaltic spirit, the |
court '@y, the knjghtly !
hand, the Christian knee. the clean !
iircsidea and the holy aItars, once
cherished in the hearts and homes of !
the pruuda7l and purest aristocracy the |